Packaging of web material



5, 1969 A. L. SHUFFREY ETAL 3,458,965

PACKAGING 0F WEB MATERIAL Filed Jan. 4, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ANTHONY J./LE$' ANTHONY L. SHUFFREY INV TORS f g ATTORNEYS 5, 1969 A. L. SHUFFREYETAL 3,4 8,965 I PACKAGING OF WEB MATERIAL Filed Jan. 4, 1967 4Sheets-Sheet 2 ANTHONY J ILES ANTHONY L. SHUFFREY INVENTORS W A r TOR/VErs A g- 5, 1969 A. SHUFFREY ETAL 3,458,965

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.ANTHONY J [LES ,ANTHONY L. SHUFFREY INVENTORS ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent 3,458,965 PACKAGING OF WEB MATERIAL Anthony L. 'Shuffrey andAnthony J. lles, London, England, assignors to Eastman Kodak Company,Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Jan. 4, 1967, Ser.No. 607,278 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Feb. 24, 1966,

8,101/ 66 Int. Cl. B65b 9/02, 51/02, 63/04 US. CI. 53-21 3 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to packagingthin webs in long lengths, and particularly to packaging long lengths ofX-ray film in a light-tight envelope.

An example of such packaged webs with which the present invention isconcerned is a commercially available industrial X-ray film wherein along length of X-ray film is contained within a paper envelope opaque toactinic light. The paper envelope comprises two strips of paper boundtogether at their longitudinal edges and having the strip of X-ray filminterleaved between them but generally free to move longitudinally ofthe envelope.

Such industrial X-ray films, after packaging, are normally coiled upon acore for convenience of subsequent handling. Unfortunately, in thecoiling of the package, the inside surface of the X-ray film extendsover a path of shorter distance than that of the outside surface of thefilm, due to the difference in diameter of the two surfaces when on thecoil. This gives rise to cockling a wrinkling of the X-ray film or otherinner packaged web material. In some cases the cockling is notparticularly disadvantageous, but where the web to be packaged is alight-sensitive material such as X-ray film this is not the case. Thecockling, due to the pressure sensitive nature of the X-ray film and/ orto the mechanical or chemical action, causes areas of fog to appear uponthe film which upon processing of the latter, and these areas of fog maycause ditficulty in interpretation by the radiographer.

It is usual, at the present time, to incorporate With an X-ray filmpackage, one or more intensifying screens. These screens are normallybonded to the material with which the X-ray film is packaged, and inconsequence, should this material cockle, the intensifying screen itselfcockles and does not lie, at the cockle, a uniform distance from theX-ray film. This also gives rise to results which after processing, ofthe X-ray film, tend to render the task of the radiographer moredifficult.

According to the present invention, there is provided a web packagingapparatus comprising first and second packaging material supply means,supply means for the Web to be packaged, an arcuate plate, guide meansfor passing webs of the first and second packaging material with the webto be packaged therebetween over the arcuate plate and means forapplying a sealant to the longitudinal edges of the webs of the firstand second packaging materials to cause them to adhere while conformingto the radius of the arcuate plate, and take-up 3,458,965 Patented Aug.5, 1969 means for coiling the packaged web in the same direction as thecurvature of the arcuate plate.

It is preferred that support means he provided for supporting supplyspindles for rolls of the first and second packaging materials and for aroll of the web to be packaged, the support means supporting spindles invertical axial alignment.

Guide means may be provided between the support means and the arcuateplate for bringing the first and second packaging materials and the webto be packaged into contact with the plate in sequence.

The means for applying a sealant may comprise an adhesive tape dispenserat each side of the web and, if necessary, heating means for heating thesealant prior to applying the same to the edges of the sandwiched webs.A plough may be provided adjacent each side of the web for inverting aportion of the tape so that the latter is pressed onto both the upperand the lower surfaces of the edges of the sandwiched webs.

Pressure pads may be provided immediately subsequent to the stationwhereat the sealant is applied to the webs, in order to compress thesealant and the webs together along the edges, to provide a moreeffective bond. Edge guides conforming in curvature to that of thearcuate plate may be provided subsequent to the sealant applying stationwhereby the sandwiched webs are held in conformity to the curvature ofthe arcuate plate until the sealant has formed a firm bond. That edge ofthe arcuate plate whereover the packaged web passes to the take-up meansmay be so shaped as to iron-out any minor cockles occurring in thepackaged web.

The means for applying the sealant, the ploughs (if provided), and theedge guides may be adjustable transversely of the arcuate plate so as toaccommodate different widths of Web packages.

The web package take-up means comprises an expansible hub positionableon a driven take-up spindle and rotatable therewith and arranged toreceive a take-up core thereover, the hub being contractible to permitremoval and replacement of cores thereon. It is preferred that theexpansible hub comprise end pivoted bars extending parallel to thespindle and defining a cylindrical surface, each of the bars, at oneend, being connected by a toggle linkage to a sliding spindle member,movement of the spindle member axially of the spindle, serving to movethe respective ends of the pivoted bars radially inwardly or outwardlywhereby to expand or contract the hub.

The invention also provides a method of packaging a web of materialcomprising the steps of feeding the web between first and secondpackaging material webs over an arcuate surface and applying a sealantlongitudinally of the edges of the surfaces while the sandwiched websare on the arcuate surface.

The sealant is preferably heated before being applied to the edges ofthe Webs.

The sandwiched webs may be guided in conformity with the arcuatesurface, subsequent to the application of the sealant for a sufiicientperiod of time to permit the sealant to form a satisfactory bond betweenthe edges of the webs.

The sandwiched and packaged web material may be fed from the arcuatesurface over an edge providing a relatively abrupt change in curvatureto a take-up roll whereby to iron-out any minor cockles in the webpackage.

The invention will be described further, by way of example withreference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of the web packaging apparatus of the presentinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIGURES 1 and2;

FIGURE 4 is a further perspective view of the appa ratus shown inFIGURES 1, 2 and 3;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIGURES 1 to 4;

FIGURE 6 is a detail of part of the apparatus shown in FIGURES 1 to 5;and

FIGURE 7 is a detailed view of a further part of the apparatus shown inFIGURES 1 to 5.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged plan view of that portion of the arcuate guidesurface to which the plough for the sealing tape is mounted; and

FIGURES 9, l0 and 11 are sectional views taken on lines 9-9, 10-40, and11-11, respectively, of FIGURE 8 to show how the plough folds thesealing tape around the end of the package as it is pulled over thearcuate surface.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown an apparatus for packaging aweb of material, for example, X-ray film, which web is of considerablelength relative to its width, and which web also is to be coiled afterpackaging. The apparatus comprises a web support means 10, having twoupright stanchions 11 providing bearings 12, for three spindles 13. Thespindles are one above the other in substantial axial alignment and theupper spindle supports a coil of a first packaging material 14; thesecond spindle supports a coil of the web 15 of the material to bepackaged; and the lower spindle supports a coil of a second packagingmaterial 16. It will be appreciated that, in general, the first andsecond packaging coils 14 and 16 will be of the same material and, inthe particular use envisaged, may well each comprise a heavy grade of alighttight paper, incorporating therewith an intensifying screen; theweb 15 to be packaged, in the particular use, comprises X-ray film.

The first packaging material 14 is fed from the coil thereof under aguide roller 17 and onto an arcuate plate 18. The web 15 to be packagedis fed under a guide roll 19 to the arcuate plate 18 and the secondpackaging material 16 is fed directly from the coil thereof to thearcuate plate 18. A bar 20 engages the outer surface of the firstpackaging material to urge the packaging webs, and the interleaved webof material to be packaged, into engagement with the arcuate plate 18 atthe commencement of their travel, as a sandwich, over the plate. Mountedupon the arcuate plate 18 are two adhesive tape dispensers 21, one ateach side of the plate 18 and each arranged to feed tape 22 over arespective heating block 23 into contact with the upper surface of thefirst packaging material 14. The tape dispensers 21 are mounted onrespective supports 24 which are adjustable transversely of the arcuateplate, i.e., parallel to the axis of the arcuate surface, and they arearranged so that tape 22 dispensed therefrom engages the upper surfaceof the first packaging material 14 by approximately half the width ofthe tape.

A plough 25, see FIGS. 7-11, is provided at each side of the arcuateplate 18, immediately subsequent to the station whereat the tape isapplied to the packaging material, and serves to invert the free edge ofthe tape, so as to cause same to engage with and bond to the undersurface of the second packaging material 16 as the webs move along thesurface of the plate 18 as illustrated in FIG- URES 8 to 11. Pressurepads may be provided adjacent the ploughs for urging the tape 22 intocontact with the upper surface of the first packaging material 14 tocause a firm bond therewith. One of these pressure pads is shown dottedat 100 in FIG. 7 so as not to obscure the showing of the plough 25.Immediately after the pressure pads there is provided, at each side ofthe arcuate plate 18, an edge guide 27 for edge guiding and maintainingthe sandwiched webs, with the tape bonded thereto, in conformity withthe curvature of the arcuate plate 18 for a sufiicient period of time toenable adhesive of the tape to set.

As will be seen from FIGURE 7 of the drawings, mounting holes 26 areprovided for mounting the edge guides and the ploughs 25 at variouslocations transversely of the plate 18 to accommodate different widthsof web packages. Likewise, means, not shown, can be provided in thearcuate guide plate 18 for adjusting the position of the edge guides 27and pressure pads 1130 to accommodate different widths of web packages.The trailing edge 28 of the plate 18 is so formed as to provide arelatively small radius curve as the packaged material leaves thearcuate plate and, in so doing, serves to iron-out any minor cockleswhich may be present in the packaging materials or the tapes.

After passing from the edge 28, the packaged material is fed to atake-up core 29 for ceiling. The take-u core 29 may be of cardboard orlike material and is supported upon a take-up spindle 30 by means of anexpansible and contractible hub 31. The hub 31 comprises a first endplate 32 whereto one end of each of a plurality of bars 33 is pivotallyattached. A spindle member 34 is slidable axially of the spindle 30 andhas pivotally secured thereto radially extending links 35 to the freeends of which are pivotally attached the free ends of the bars 33. Itwill be appreciated that movement of the spindle member 34 axially ofthe spindle 30 causes radially inward and outward movement of the endsof the bars 33. A step 36 is provided on the spindle 30 such thatmovement of the spindle member towards the stop constitutes expansion ofthe radius of a cylinder defined by the bars 33, to an over-centerposition. In use, a cardboard or like take-up core 29 is positioned onthe bars 33 while the spindle member 34 is in a position remote from thestop 36. Thereafter, the spindle member is moved towards the stop 36,causing the bars 33 to move radially outwardly to engage the innersurface of the core 29, to its over-center position in engagement withthe stop 36. The three rods 40, spaced 120 apart, serve to support thecardboard take-up core when the bars 33 are moved inwardly to their coredisengaging positions.

Such a take-up arrangement permits rapid removal and replacement ofcores upon the spindles. The spindle 30 is driven by a motor (not shown)so as to provide for a peripheral speed of the core 29 and hence alinear speed of the web package, of the order of to feet per minute. Atthis speed, visual inspection of the packaged material is possible evenunder safelight conditions. However, with other inspection arrangements,it is possible to inspect the web at a linear speed of 300 feet perminute. To this end the motor may be a variable speed motor.

The invention is not confined to the precise details in the foregoingexample and many variations are possible within its scope. For instance,the heaters 23 are preferably retractable, so as, on stopping of theapparatus, they may be withdrawn from the tape feed path to preventoverheating of the tape and consequent loss of effectiveness of the tapein the bonding of the webs together.

The apparatus described may be used for packaging material other thanX-ray film, which material i in web form and which material is to becoiled subsequent to packaging.

It will be appreciated, of course, that a sealant other than an adhesivetape may be used for bonding the two edges of the packaged materialtogether. For example, the two webs of packaging material 14 and 16could be slightly wider than the web interleaved therebetween and theiradjacent faces could be joined by a pressure sensitive or heat sensitivecoating applied to one or both thereof.

As mentioned above, the two rolls of packaging materials need not beidentical and, in the particular example given, each may or may notincorporate an intensifying screen.

In its use in packaging a light-sensitive material, it may beadvantageous to provide the support means and the arcuate plate with alight-tight housing, the take-up core being provided externally of thehousing thereby facilitating visual inspection of the package beforecoiling.

Other variations are possible within the scope of the present invention.

We claim:

1. The method of continuously packaging an elongated web of materialbetween two strips of elongated packaging material which minimizescockling of the packaged web and the strips between which it is packagedwhen the packaged web is coiled up and comprising the steps ofcontinuously advancing each of said strips of packaging material andsaid web of material from sources of supply toward a take-up point;interleaving said web of material between said strips of packagingmaterial while they are being advanced;

guiding said interleaved web of material and strips of packagingmaterial over an arcuate path positioned ahead of said take-up pointwhile they are under tension;

applying an adhesive tape to each of the longitudinal edges of saidstrips of packaging material and in covering relation with the edges ofsaid web material while they are advancing over said arcuate path tocause adherence of the adhesive while conforming to the radius of saidarcuate path; and

coiling up said packaged web in the same direction as the curvature ofsaid arcuate path. 2. A web packaging apparatus comprising means forsupplying a strip of web material and first and second strips ofpackaging material each having a width at least equal to that of the Webmaterial;

an arcuate plate having a sharply rounded edge on its trailing end;

guide means for interleaving the web material between said first andsecond strips of packaging material and directing the interleaved stripsand web over said arcuate plate;

means for applying a sealant to the longitudinal edges of said first andsecond strips of packaging material 6 to cause them to adhere whileconforming to the radius of said arcuate plate and; windup means forcoiling the packaged web material in the same direction as the curvatureof the arcuate 5 plate and so located relative to the arcuate plate asto cause the packaged web to bend as it is pulled over the sharplyrounded edge on the trailing end of the arcuate plate for ironing outany wrinkles which might remain in the packaged web prior to its beingcoiled up.

3. A machine for continuously packaging an elongated strip of webmaterial between first and second strips of paper having a widthsubstantially equal to the web material;

an arcuate plate;

guide means for interleaving the web material between said first andsecond paper strips and directing the interleaved paper strips and webmaterial over said arcuate plate;

means for applying an adhesive tape to each of the longitudinal edges ofsaid paper strips and in cover ing relation with the edges of said webmaterial while said strips and web material are passing over saidarcuate plate to cause adherence of the adhesive while conforming to theradius of said arcuate plate; means for pulling the interleaved paperstrips and web material about said arcuate plate under tension and forcoiling the packaged web material in the same direction as the curvatureof the arcuate plate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1957 Stefien 156-495 X 1/1966Vreeland et al. 5328 US. Cl. X.R.

